This isn害羞草研究所檛 how the Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to enter their final homestand of the season.
With just four games left on the schedule, the 害羞草研究所楥aps (9-14-7) are on a three-game losing skid and their playoff hopes have all but evaporated.
害羞草研究所淥ur backs are against the wall, and we害羞草研究所檙e trying to put good performances together,害羞草研究所� defender Tristan Blackmon said Tuesday. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a battle for sure.害羞草研究所�
The club isn害羞草研究所檛 about to give up, however. The 害羞草研究所楥aps will continue to push as they kick off a three-game homestand Wednesday against the L.A. Galaxy (11-11-7).
害羞草研究所�(Making the playoffs) is going to be tough. We害羞草研究所檙e going to need to, obviously, win our four games, hope that other results go our way,害羞草研究所� said attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld.
害羞草研究所淏ut I would say the main thing for us is look to improve upon what we害羞草研究所檝e liked in the last few months which is intensity, a bit more grit. All we can do now is take each game as it comes and look for positive results.害羞草研究所�
Gauld is set to return to Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 lineup after missing Saturday害羞草研究所檚 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids due to a suspension brought on by yellow card accumulation.
With the Scottish star on the sidelines, the 害羞草研究所楥aps struggled to generate chances.
Creating more offence through the final games of the regular season will require the team to be more aggressive, said Gauld, who has six goals and seven assists in 24 Major League Soccer appearances this year.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檝e seen in some second halves lately, we害羞草研究所檝e been keeping the ball more than in their half,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 something that we need to do more of from the start of the game instead of just always looking to play the long ball and getting behind them.
害羞草研究所淲e need to hold on to the ball more, I think, try and tire teams out and hopefully create openings.害羞草研究所�
Controlling the play against L.A. won害羞草研究所檛 be easy. After struggling at times this season, the Galaxy head to Vancouver on a six-game unbeaten streak (2-0-4) that began with a 5-2 victory over the 害羞草研究所楥aps back on Aug. 13.
害羞草研究所淭hey have great players, even though they害羞草研究所檝e gone through a stretch where they害羞草研究所檝e struggled as well,害羞草研究所� said Blackmon, who got to know the Galaxy well during his time with Los Angeles FC. 害羞草研究所淵ou see the talent that they put on the field each time they play, and they have new acquisitions as well. So it害羞草研究所檚 going to be a good matchup.害羞草研究所�
Vancouver will need to limit its defensive mistakes on Wednesday, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
害羞草研究所淭hey are a team that they create a lot, but also they concede a lot,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o if you are very solid defensively, we can win the game. If not, we won害羞草研究所檛. (Offensively), I think we害羞草研究所檒l have chances.害羞草研究所�
Despite their recent run, L.A. still sits three points below the Western Conference playoff bar.
The Whitecaps aren害羞草研究所檛 thinking about ruining the Galaxy害羞草研究所檚 post-season dreams, though, Sartini said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not that we have any, any feuds or any revenge with anyone. We have to be concentrated on ourselves,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he maximum points that we can achieve is 46 at the moment, so the objective is to make 46 points.
害羞草研究所淭he only thing that matters are the Whitecaps.害羞草研究所�
L.A. GALAXY (11-11-7) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9-14-7)
Wednesday, B.C. Place
INS AND OUTS: The Whitecaps will once again be without their leading scorer, Lucas Cavallini as he serves the third game of a four-game suspension. Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter is questionable due to a knee injury and winger Deiber Caicedo has undergone season-ending surgery on his right knee. L.A. defender Sega Coulibaly and Raheem Edwards are both sidelined with suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
HISTORY BOOKS: The Galaxy hold a 15-9-6 all-time record over the 害羞草研究所楥aps, but haven害羞草研究所檛 won two matches against Vancouver in a single season since 2014.
THE NUMBERS: Vancouver has a -21 goal differential through 34 games this season, the worst of any team in the Western Conference. They害羞草研究所檙e also the least accurate shooting team in MLS this season, hitting the target with 29.5 per cent of their shots.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2022.
害羞草研究所擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
